Police: Dispute over real estate deal turned violent

Published September 10, 2013 at 12:38 pm

Two siblings are facing criminal charges following a disagreement over a real estate deal in Apple Valley that erupted into violence.

Manuel A. Manrique, 26, of Burnsville, and his sister, 41-year-old Lisa M. Zarza, of Farmington, were each charged in district court Aug. 27 with criminal damage to property following the incident in August of last year.

A criminal complaint gives the following account:

Apple Valley police responding to a disturbance call on the 13000 block of Pennock Avenue met with a married couple, who reported they had gone to the address to complete a real estate transaction with a woman who was accompanied by Zarza.

During the transaction – the wife was selling the property to Zarza’s companion – a disagreement ensued, and as the seller turned to leave, she was grabbed from behind by Zarza, who attempted to take the paperwork for the deal.

At that point, Zarza reportedly threw the seller to the ground and struck her in the head. The seller’s husband intervened, pulling his wife off the ground, but Zarza continued the attack, punching and kicking at the passenger side of the couple’s vehicle.

The husband reported that Manrique – who had not been present during the real estate transaction – followed him as he and his wife returned to their vehicle. Manrique allegedly attempted to punch him in the head through the open driver’s side window, grazing his face, and also punched and kicked at the side of the vehicle.

Damage to the vehicle was estimated at more than $1,000, police said.

If convicted, Manrique and Zarza each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $10,000.